Purposeful AI Use: Same Principles, Different Design Outcomes

Bodong Chen
cbd@upenn.edu

Penn GSE

About Me

Bodong Chen
Learning Scientist & Technologist | Wonder Lab
Penn Graduate School of Education

Our Challenge

How do we move beyond banning or ignoring AI to purposeful engagement?

The Reality

  • AI is already in our classrooms
  • Students are using it

The Opportunity

  • Reframe learning objectives
  • Model purposeful AI use
  • Go beyond “best practices”

My Pedagogical Groundings


Education as Life Itself

“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” — John Dewey

Authentic Disciplinary Practices

What do professionals in our disciplines do? How are professional practices evolving?

The Goal: Help students become thoughtful, critical users of AI within their disciplines

My AI Policy

Responsibility + Transparency

Generative AI tools can enhance your learning when used thoughtfully… AI should supplement—not substitute for—your own critical thinking.

If you decide to use one of those tools you will not be penalized, instead we would like you to acknowledge when you have used them and where, particularly in your written responses.

Same Principles, Different Outcomes

Course 1: Programming Fundamentals

  • Learning Objectives Changed
    • Before AI: Learn Python syntax and programming concepts
    • With AI: Learn to work with GitHub Copilot to solve authentic problems
  • Student Experience
    • AI integrated into learning fundamentals
    • Copilot help explain and generate code
    • Focus shifts to problem-solving and code comprehension

Course 2: Learning Theories

  • Learning Objectives Unchanged
    • Understand foundational learning theories
    • Apply theories to authentic educational problems
  • Student Experience
    • Students use ChatLab (custom tool)
    • Explore connections between personal interests and theories
    • Deeper engagement with complex theoretical concepts

Augment My Teaching Practice with AI

Generating Reading Scaffolds with InkSpire (custom tool)

  • Provide scaffolds anchored in disciplinary practices and teaching strategies
  • Align with specific learning goals

Key Takeaways

  1. Start with pedagogy, not technology
  2. Align AI use with disciplinary practices
  3. Transparency and accountability builds trust and confidence
  4. Different contexts require different approaches
  5. Model the behaviors you want to see

Happy to Connect

  • Share experiences and challenges
  • Co-design pedagogical approaches
  • Build disciplinary-specific tools

Email: cbd@upenn.edu